The Pivotal Project

The Four x Four Group

  

The Four x Four Group is for people with ORV (off-road-) or OHV Off-Highway Vehicle interests. It is a profitable enterprise but has as secondary objectives of contributing to the Pivotal objectives, motivating learning, developing meaningful student projects, increasing employment opportunities, developing related land-use guides and techniques, and conducting research on vehicles and their effects in the open terrain. Many of the activities are already well developed in several groups. Opportunities for affiliations exist in the county and surrounding areas of Roanoke, Blacksburg, Covington, etc. The selection of a "personality," activities, and outreach will determine the local group and its lasting influence and benefits to its members.

Profit oriented, the Group is likely to be engaged in activities and services selected from:

  1. Developing a procedure for scoring trails and routes
  2. Developing a software unit (GIS) for locating and selecting areas within large parts of Virginia and West Virginia for desireable use of 4-wheel drive vehicles
  3. Developing a GPS related activity or use withvehicles
  4. Developing an open organization with newsletter and meetings for 4-wheel drive enthusiasts
  5. Developing a tagging program, offering a tag for vehicles based on special inspections (at reduced rates for members)
  6. Arranging for a special insurance with reduced rates for members or those who have taken a course
  7. Conducting a course for fees (safety, first aid, repairs, emergency work, driver safety, driver health)
  8. Developing trails or routes with maps and advice for members.
  9. Conducting trail rides (for fees) with educational stops, and catered meals at destinations (winter and fall rides are highlights)
  10. Balance over the management surface is neededConducting night rides (in connection with Owls Group and Coyote)
  11. Conducting shows (for fees)
  12. Conducting contests (entrant fees)
  13. Being available for rescue missions
  14. Conducting random (planned) safety and security citizen checkup routes
  15. Being ready for fire-fighting assistance
  16. Developing a unit of The Wildland Crew
  17. Conducting reduced maintenance and care costs programs with 1-2 garages under contract (with discounts for members)
  18. Conducting instruction in road layout, erosion control, care and maintenance for bulldozer operators, loggers, land owners
  19. Selling parts
  20. Selling maps and related services
  21. Selling special paint products and services
  22. Creating and selling software
  23. Selling publications
  24. Creating and managing a web site with sales of memberships, books, supplies, trips, tours with other groups, vehicle parts, videos of driving, safety, insurance, vehicles themselves (the e-auction).
  25. Forming partnerships with off-road manufacturers such as Range Rover, Jeep, and Honda to educate drivers, riders, event observers, and land owners.
  26. Inspecting road sections and filing reports on the Internet on conditions for members…and security or searching/emergency forces.
  27. Lobbying (supported by vehicle sales groups, parts retailers, etc.)
  28. Research grants (overhead) in connection with Virginia Tech, with results plowed back into the enterprise.
  29. Commissions on parts sales inspired by the Group.
  30. Becoming the transportation unit for Pivotal-Rig within System Central

There are Forest Service and BLM plans (1999 message) to prevent motorized cross-country travel on federal lands (with a few exceptions, e.g., handicapped access and firewood cutting with a permit). Cross-country travel, it has been claimed, can spread noxious weeds, cause erosion, damage cultural sites, disrupt wildlife, and create conflicts among land users. There have been difficulties and most can be eliminated, or tradeoff realized, especially with the combination of strategies suggested above. The potentials on federal lands, if closed, regrettably, open new private-land opportunities.

Links:

http://www.4wdonline.com/Clubs/US/
http://cnc.4x4.org

United Four Wheel Drive Association http://www.ufwda.org - Dedicated to Promoting the Great Outdoors

Baltimore 4 Wheelers/OHV
21000 York Road
Parkton, MD 21120
http://www.4x4review.com/clubs/page.asp?state=MD&sort=club

http://www.ec4wda.org/landuse.asp

The concepts for management of related lands and practices are available in The Trevey.

A revised version of this unit, suggestions for a Virginia Tech Student group, are also available.

See Belles and Whistles.

Estimates

Development costs, as with other units, are primarily for staff, then affilitation with local dealers, shops, and garages. The net gains will relate to the expansion and region over which the group can develop.

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